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Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:04 am
by SchmidtMotorWorks
Any suggestions for an engine and transmission swap candidate for a 240D?
My first thought was 215 Buick V8 but they are very scarce to find.
Next thought was 2300 Ford SOHC or Toyota 22R.
I am wondering if something more modern might be better. That said, I will probably make it carburetor even if it comes with EFI.
Was the quad4 ever used in a rear wheel drive?
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:44 am
by Kevin Johnson
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:10 pm
by mag2555
If you or whoever would be happy with 215 cubic inches of Buick power then why not 231 cubic inches of Buick V6 power, or while on the subject of V6s then why not a Chevy V6?
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 12:22 pm
by Kevin Johnson
I guess the BMW V12 won't fit, eh?
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 1:08 pm
by BILL-C
How about a 4.3 chevy v-6 and trans out of a 2 wheel drive pickup or s-10? It can be efi or carb. My s-10 was very dependable, had plenty of power, and had decent gas milage until body rotted away.
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 1:12 pm
by CamKing
2L Ford Zetec engine
They're cheap, and there's a lot of aftermarket parts available for them.
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 1:20 pm
by Ollies930
Why not a similar year Mercedes 230 or 250 engine? Least amount of custom fab as you can use all OEM stuff and engines should be readily available.
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 1:20 pm
by Curtis Mc
4g63?
GM Atlas family 4, 5, 6cyl?
2JZ?
2.3 Ecoboost?
SR20?
Back to diesel?
4BT?
VW 1.9? 2.0?
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 1:30 pm
by prairiehotrodder
how about a 350 / turbo 350. A pretty weird combo
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 1:39 pm
by rp930
Usually the bodies are too rusty to bother.
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 1:50 pm
by SchmidtMotorWorks
rp930 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 10, 2020 1:39 pm
Usually the bodies are too rusty to bother.
Not this one. It was fashionable for doctors in Newport Beach to have these cars back in the 80s.
Then BMW became the new standard and this car sat in a garage since then.
It runs and drives like new but the diesel smell is nasty in so cal.
My 13 year old wants it so I am thinking about something that he could use when he is off to college, reliable or easy to fix.
Not wanting an engine that is too heavy.
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 1:54 pm
by SchmidtMotorWorks
Thanks for all the ideas, I have never looked at some of them, do that over the weekend.
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 1:57 pm
by SchmidtMotorWorks
prairiehotrodder wrote: ↑Fri Jan 10, 2020 1:30 pm
how about a 350 / turbo 350. A pretty weird combo
I have seen small block ford conversions.
I worry that it would be like most V8 Vega conversions were. Too heavy for the chassis and too power ful for the drive train.
Best v8 Vega swap I ever saw was a 215. Coworker drove it daily for 10+ years.
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 2:30 pm
by ptuomov
Two ideas: first, how about not swapping the engine and instead adding a turbo and, second, how about the idea of EMP proofing the car in the true prepper spirit?
Re: Engine swap ideas for a 1979 Mercedes 240D
Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2020 2:32 pm
by dannobee
Isn't the rover V8 just a refined/updated 215 cu in Buick?